Accelerating Infrastructure Innovations
FOCUS
April 2014
INSIDE
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Rock solid: Rockeries offer context-sensitive slope solutions Protecting transportation investments with risk-based asset management Participate in the LTPP warm-mix asphalt study USDOT publishes notices of proposed rulemaking Infrastructure innovation webinars Highway technology calendar
FHWA offers highway friction tester demonstrations
www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/ focus/index.cfm
Accelerating Infrastructure Innovations: Goodbye Focus, Hello Innovator
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rom Superpave to high-performance concrete (HPC) to prefabricated bridge technologies, Focus has always been about accelerating infrastructure innovations. At its beginning in 1987, that meant chronicling the groundbreaking work of the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP). This was followed by comprehensive coverage of SHRP technology implementation efforts. Pavement preservation strategies, anti-icing techniques, HPC pavements and bridges, and the growth in Superpave use nationwide were among the featured technologies resulting from SHRP’s success. After SHRP implementation ended in 2000, Focus continued to report on the real-life experiences of States using SHRP products, but coverage also expanded to include a broader range of infrastructure-related developments. Asset management, accelerated bridge construction, highway materials innovations, work zone safety improvements, and advancements in long-term bridge performance are just some of the technologies that have shared the Focus spotlight since then. Recent years have also featured a new millennium’s crop of innova-
tions resulting from SHRP2 and the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Every Day Counts (EDC) initiative. This issue is the last Focus. But FHWA’s Innovator newsletter will continue to report on the latest in highway innovation topics. Dedicated to “Accelerating Innovation for the American Driving Experience,” recent Innovator topics have included warm-mix asphalt, smart work zones, and the geosynthetic reinforced soil integrated bridge system. All Focus subscribers will receive the electronic version of Innovator, though subscribers not interested in continuing to receive the publication will, of course, be able to opt out. To check out past issues of the Innovator, visit www.fhwa.dot. gov/hfl/innovator. FHWA’s SHRP2 Solutions (www.fhwa.dot.gov/goshrp2) and EDC (www. fhwa.dot.gov/everydaycounts) Web sites are also your current go-to spots for the latest in highway infrastructure advancements. Say goodbye to Focus this month, but with the help of FHWA’s many other technology resources, continue to say hello to the innovations that are reinventing America’s highways and bridges both for today and well into the ✽ future.
Rock Solid
Rockeries Offer Context-Sensitive Slope Solutions
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or highway agencies looking for a cost-effective and aesthetically appealing option when building gravity-retaining structures along rural roadways, rockeries offer a historical and yet sustainable solution. Rockeries are an engineered system of dry stacked angular rocks placed without mortar, concrete, or steel reinforcement. Often built with local native stone, they rely on the weight, size, shape, and interface friction of the rock elements to provide overall stability. Rock dimensions are generally greater than 450 mm (18 in), while the rock weights are greater than 90 kg (200 lb). The structures achieve stability through the mass of the rocks and inter-rock friction. A retaining rockery supports itself and resists lateral earth pressures, preventing erosion and slope collapse. Rockeries dating back to the late 1800s can still be found in the United States, along with many others built in the 1930s along National Forest and National Park roads. “We continue to find situations where new rockery construction would be advantageous,” said Khamis Haramy of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). “Rockeries continue to Rockeries are an gain in popularity throughUse had been hamout the western United engineered system pered, however, by a lack States.” For example, an of dry stacked of statewide or national increasing number of angular rocks placed design standards and rockeries have been built construction guidelines. in northern California without mortar, FHWA’s Rockery Design and Nevada over the last concrete, or steel and Construction Guide15 years. In 2005 and reinforcement. lines (Pub. No. FHWA2006, FHWA’s Federal CFL/TD-06-006) proLands Highway division vide highway designers, designed and constructed inspectors, and contracrockeries for the Guanella Pass Road project in the Pike National tors with a basis for evaluating existing rockeries and specifying and constructing Forest in Colorado.
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FHWA used rockeries to improve safety and reduce maintenance needs when reconstructing part of the Beaver to Junction Highway in southern Utah.
new ones. The guidelines define and evaluate rockery stability as a function of the rockery geometry, rock properties and placement, and lateral earth pressure. “These guidelines give roadway designers and owners confidence that these structures can be used in modern highway engineering,” said Roger Surdahl of FHWA. The guidelines cover static and seismic stability design, tiered rockeries, and other various layouts. Also featured are construction recommendations, including excavation, rock placement, drainage
FOCUS • April 2014
Rockeries built by FHWA on Bear Lake Road in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park have improved both safety and aesthetics.
details, and backfill selection. Field inspection guidelines are included as well. Agencies and contractors will also find guidance on evaluating the stability of existing historic rockeries and sample specifications that can be modified as necessary to meet the specifics of each individual project. The guidelines’ appendices include a sample design problem and details for sample rockery sections. Since the guidelines were issued, FHWA’s Federal Lands Highway division has designed and completed several rockeries projects. Using rockeries and timber-faced steel guardrails on a 7.7-km (4.8-mi) section of Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, for example, reduced costs
FOCUS • April 2014
while meeting the project’s requirements for contextsensitive design that would match the road’s rustic setting. Completed in summer 2013, the project improved both safety and aesthetics on the roadway. FHWA also used rockeries when reconstructing 3.2 km (2 mi) of roadway on the Beaver to Junction Highway (SR 153) in southern Utah. Completed in fall 2012, the project’s scope included widening the roadway to create a consistent standard roadway width while upgrading the road’s horizontal and vertical alignments. “Rock fall hazards are of major concern along this portion of SR 153,” said Haramy. The only rockfall mitigation measures previously in place were
small roadside ditches. To improve safety and reduce maintenance needs, the reconstructed roadway includes new mitigation measures, such as cut-side walls featuring rockeries approaching 7 m (20 ft) in height. These slope-stabilizing rockeries also provide a sustainability benefit by using onsite boulders. To download a copy of FHWA’s Rockery Design and Construction Guidelines, visit www. cflhd.gov/programs/techDevelopment/ geotech/rockeries. For more information on the guidelines, contact Khamis Haramy at FHWA, 720-963-3521 (email: khamis. ✽ haramy@dot.gov).
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Protecting Transportation Investments with Risk-Based Asset Management
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new series of reports available from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) examines how transportation agencies can use risk management to better protect their highway infrastructure investments, improve decisionmaking, and demonstrate accountability. Until recently, transportation agencies have largely used risk management at the project level during construction. Managing risks at the project level helps to identify threats to the cost, scope, and schedule, as well as opportunities to keep projects on track. However, risk management can also pay dividends at the broader program and organizational levels, particularly when agencies face funding challenges. For example, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) tracks and forecasts potential risks to assets. Based on the classification, age, condition, performance, and projected risk to assets, WSDOT then develops and implements reconstruction and preservation strategies. Agencies can also use risk management to prepare for and respond to such external risks as extreme weather events, climate change, and major economic downturns. Managing risk is an integral step in following a comprehensive asset management framework, as described in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Asset Management Guide— A Focus on Implementation. And under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), States are to develop risk-based transportation asset management plans. State transportation agencies with a process for undertaking a risk management analysis for their highway network would include identification, assessment, evaluation, and prioritization of risks that can affect the condition, effectiveness, and system performance as it relates to operation of
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their physical assets. Agencies would also include an approach for addressing the risks that they determine to be high priority. “This series of reports will help transportation agencies as they develop their asset management plans and make complex infrastructure investment decisions and communicate them effectively to the public,” said Steve Gaj of FHWA. Five reports are available in the RiskBased Transportation Asset Management series: • Report 1: Evaluating Threats, Capitalizing on Opportunities (Pub. No. FHWA-HIF-12-035). • Report 2: Examining Risk-Based Approaches to Transportation Asset Management (Pub. No. FHWAHIF-12-050).
• Report 3: Achieving Policy Objectives by Managing Risks (Pub. No. FHWA-HIF-12-054). • Report 4: Managing Risks to Networks, Corridors, and Critical Structures (Pub. No. FHWA-HIF-13-017). • Report 5: Building Resilience into Transportation Assets (Pub. No. FHWA-HIF-13-018). To download all of the reports, visit www.fhwa.dot.gov/asset/pubs.cfm?this area=risk. For more information on riskbased transportation asset management, contact Nastaran Saadatmand at FHWA, 202-366-1337 (email: nastaran.saadatmand @dot.gov), or Steve Gaj at FHWA, 202366-1336 (email: stephen.gaj@dot.gov).✽
Investing in the Future of Pavement Management As transportation agencies have changed the way they do business in recent years, including the increased use of asset management principles for resource allocation and other decisionmaking, the role of pavement management has changed also. Pavement management continues to evolve as it moves from reporting pavement condition, optimizing projects, and estimating funding needs to supporting asset management practices, linking maintenance and preservation activities, and providing performance data for calibrating the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide models and other performance-based models. Data collection technologies have also evolved over the years, moving from visual pavement condition surveys to modern automated techniques. As data collection becomes more efficient, accurate, and precise, agencies can use the better quality data
to make more informed decisions. This has become even more important in the face of shrinking funding, an aging pavement network, and increased traffic demands. These advances in pavement management are fulfilling the vision of FHWA’s Pavement Management Roadmap (Pub. No. FHWAHIF-11-011). The Roadmap outlines research and development initiatives and priorities needed by the year 2020 to address the country’s pavement management needs at the project, network, and strategic levels. To learn more about completed and ongoing projects, including research into new applications of pavement management data, strategies for incorporating emerging technologies into pavement management systems, and steps to achieving more sustainable pavement management, visit FHWA’s Pavement Management Roadmap Web site at www.fhwa.dot. gov/pavement/management/roadmap.
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Participate in the LTPP Warm-Mix Asphalt Study
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he Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) LongTerm Pavement Performance (LTPP) program is now recruiting test projects for a new warm-mix asphalt study. “This is an excellent opportunity for highway agencies to learn about the long-term performance of different warm-mix asphalt technologies available today,” said Jack Springer of FHWA. Monitoring the mix design and construction of warm-mix asphalt pavements from the time of placement to the end of performance will provide valuable information on the benefits offered by the technology. Projects that will be constructed between 2014 and 2016 are eligible to participate in the study. The recruitment period runs until May 2014. For more information on the nomination process, site requirements, and highway agency responsibilities, contact Aramis Lopez at FHWA, 202-493-3145 (email: aramis.lopez@ dot.gov). To learn more about the LTPP program, visit www.fhwa. dot.gov/research/tfhrc/programs/ infrastructure/pavements/ltpp. ✽
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USDOT Publishes Notices of Proposed Rulemaking
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n March 2014, the U.S. Depart- Highway Safety Plan update cycle, and ment of Transportation (USDOT) other revisions to implement MAP-21 published two interrelated Notices provisions. The NPRM also clarifies existof Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) ing regulatory language. To review the in the Federal Register, as required by the NPRM, visit www.federalregister.gov/ Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st articles/2014/03/28/2014-06681/ Century Act (MAP-21). highway-safety-improvement-program. The Safety Performance Measures To submit comments to the docket, visit NPRM proposes safety performance mea- www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= sures and State department of transporta- FHWA-2013-0019. The comments period tion and metropolitan planning organiza- ends May 27, 2014. Additional information requirements for establishing and tion is available at http://safety.fhwa.dot. reporting specific annual targets for high- gov/hsip/nprm. way fatalities and serious injuries. To review USDOT anticipates publishing a third this NPRM, visit www.federalregister.gov/ related NPRM that will address proposed articles/2014/03/11/2014-05152/national- updates to the statewide, metropolitan, performance-management-measures- and nonmetropolitan planning regulations. highway-safety-improvement-program. To This notice will also be open for public submit comments to the docket, visit www. comment. The three NPRMs are among regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FH USDOT’s proposals to implement MAPWA-2013-0020. The comments period 21 performance provisions for the Federalends June 9, 2014. A related fact sheet is aid highway program. available at www.fhwa.dot.gov/tpm/rule/ A second set of forthcoming perforsafetyfactsheet.pdf, while Webcast record- mance-related NPRMs will focus on ings on the NPRM and other aspects of pavements, bridges, and asset managetransportation performance management ment, while a third set will concencan be downloaded at trate on congestion, www.fhwa.dot.gov/tpm/ emissions, system perresources/presentations. formance, freight, and The three NPRMs cfm. public transportation. The Highway Safety For more information are among Improvement Program on transportation perforUSDOT’s proposals (HSIP) NPRM updates mance management, visit to implement the existing HSIP rewww.fhwa.dot.gov/ quirements contained in tpm/index.cfm. Questions MAP-21 perfor23 Code of Federal Reguabout the performancemance provisions lations Part 924 and prorelated NPRMs can be for the Federal-aid poses a subset of the emailed to Performance model inventory of roadMeasuresRulemaking@ highway program. ✽ way elements for all dot.gov. public roads, a Strategic
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Infrastructure Innovation Webinars These free Webinars provide a quick introduction to the latest infrastructure innovations and technologies.
SHRP2 Tuesdays Webinar Series Upcoming Webinars sponsored by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) through its second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) Tuesdays Webinar series include: High-Speed Nondestructive Testing Methods for Mapping Voids, Debonding, Delaminations, Moisture, and Other Defects Behind or Within Tunnel Linings April 22, 2014, 2–3:30 p.m. eastern daylight time (EDT) Participants will learn about SHRP2 Project R06G, which identified nondestructive testing technologies for evaluating the condition of various tunnel linings and tunnel lining finishes. The project advanced both hardware and software development for the most promising technologies and demonstrated the technologies’ ability to detect flaws within or verify the condition of the targeted tunnel components. To register, visit www.trb.org/ StrategicHighwayResearchProgram2 SHRP2/Blurbs/170402.aspx. For more information, contact Linda Mason at TRB, 202-334-3241 (email: lmason@ nas.edu). Identifying and Reducing Worker, Inspector, and Manager Fatigue in Rapid Renewal Environments April 29, 2014, 2–3:30 p.m EDT The Webinar will highlight the work of SHRP2 Project R03, which documented worker fatigue impacts during rapid renewal operations in the highway construction industry. A new Fatigue Risk Management Guide for Rapid Renewal
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Highway Construction Projects is now available, as well as the project report, Identifying and Reducing Worker, Inspector, and Manager Fatigue in Rapid Renewal Environments. Participants will learn how to define the risk factors associated with workplace fatigue, identify procedures to manage those risk factors, and apply the new guide’s recommendations for use in their own agencies. To register, visit www.trb.org/ ElectronicSessions/Blurbs/170515. aspx. For more information, contact Linda Mason at TRB, 202-334-3241 (email: lmason@nas.edu). Bridges Beyond 100 Years: Innovative Systems May 6, 2014, 2–3:30 p.m. EDT The session will summarize SHRP2 Project R19B, which developed new design codes, performance measures, and implementation tools that can lead to longer and more predictable bridge service life. The project produced a report, Bridges for Service Life Beyond 100 Years: Service Limit State Design, which addresses the performance measures and design procedures that maximize the actual life of a bridge. Webinar topics will also include proposed changes to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Load and Resistance Factor Design Bridge Design Specifications. To register, visit www.trb.org/ StrategicHighwayResearchProgram2 SHRP2/Blurbs/170504.aspx. For more information, contact Linda Mason at TRB, 202-334-3241 (email: lmason@ nas.edu).
Managing and Sharing 3D Models for Construction May 7, 2014, 1–2:30 p.m. EDT The Webinar will highlight the use of 3D engineered models in transportation construction work. This session is fifth in an FHWA series on 3D Engineered Models for Construction. For details on registration and to find recordings and presentations from the first four Webinars in the series, visit www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/3d/ webinars.cfm. For more information, contact Douglas Townes at the FHWA Resource Center, 404-562-3914 (email: douglas. townes@dot.gov). Transportation Asset Management (TAM) Webinar Series Presented by AASHTO and FHWA, upcoming topics in this ongoing Webinar series include: Approaches to Integrating Risk into TAM Programs and Plans, June 11, 2014, 2 p.m. EDT Managing Off-System Assets, August 13, 2014, 2 p.m. EDT Transportation Asset Management Financial Plans, October 8, 2014, 2 p.m. EDT For more details and registration information, visit http://tam.transportation. ✽ org/Pages/Webinars.aspx.
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Highway Technology Calendar The following events provide opportunities to learn more about products and technologies for accelerating infrastructure innovations. National Bridge Preservation Partnership Conference 2014 April 21–25, 2014, Orlando, FL Sessions will cover such topics as best practices; new materials, equipment, technologies, and research; and sustainable long-term performance. Interactive workshops will spotlight bridge preservation tools. Conference sponsors include the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Transportation Research Board (TRB), National Center for Pavement Preservation, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Contact: Anwar Ahmad at FHWA, 202-366-8501 (email: anwar.ahmad@ dot.gov), or visit www.nbppc2014.org. Tenth National Conference on Transportation Asset Management April 28–30, 2014, Miami, FL The conference is designed for transportation agencies and metropolitan planning organizations in all stages of asset management implementation. Themes will include establishment and monitoring of asset management plans, performance measures for asset management, tools and technology to assist decisionmaking, and adaptation to extreme weather events and climate change, including using risk assessment and vulnerability analysis. Strategies for overcoming barriers to asset management implementation will also be discussed. Organized by TRB, the conference is also supported by FHWA and AASHTO. Contact: Steve Gaj at FHWA, 202366-1336 (email: stephen.gaj@dot.gov), or visit www.trb.org/conferences/ AssetManagement2014.aspx.
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2014 Tools of the Trade Conference July 21–23, 2014, Burlington, VT Sponsored by TRB, the conference will spotlight practical transportation planning techniques and tools for use by practitioners in small and mediumsized communities. Researchers, members of academia, and other members of the transportation community are also encouraged to attend. Among the topics are the project programming process, including evaluating and prioritizing projects with performance measures; financial strategies; pedestrian and bike planning; traffic operations and analysis; demand forecasting; and systems analysis. Technology applications, environmental and health issues, and freight logistics will also be featured. Contact: For additional information, visit www.trbtoolsofthetrade.org/ conference/index.html. Seventh National and International In-Place Recycling Conference and Workshop August 5–7, 2014, Denver, CO Featured topics will include project selection, performance of in-place recycling technologies, sustainability benefits, structural and mixture designs, specifications, and construction operations. Event supporters include FHWA, Asphalt Recycling and Reclaiming Association, Asphalt Institute, and the National Center for Pavement Preservation. Contact: Lee Gallivan at FHWA, 317-226-7493 (email: victor.gallivan@ dot.gov).
2014 National Hydraulic Engineering Conference: Designing Sustainable Infrastructure in a Changing Environment August 19–22, 2014, Iowa City, IA Sponsored by FHWA, in coordination with the University of Iowa, the conference will feature such topics as stream stability, watershed management, scour and bridge hydraulics, coastal engineering, climate change, hydrology, and asset management. Contact: Cynthia Nurmi at the FHWA Resource Center, 404-5623908 (email: cynthia.nurmi@dot.gov), or visit www.uiowa.edu/~confinst/ nhec2014/index.html. 2014 National Accelerated Bridge Construction Conference December 3–5, 2014, Miami, FL The latest knowledge, technologies, and case studies related to accelerated bridge construction (ABC) will be spotlighted at the conference. Several workshops on ABC topics will be held December 3, followed by the conference kick-off on December 4. Cosponsored by FHWA and 16 State transportation agencies, the event is organized by the Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center at Florida International University. Attendees will include State bridge engineers, design professionals, fabricators, contractors, members of academia, and representatives from Federal agencies. Contact: Atorod Azizinamini at Florida International University, 402-770-6210 (email: aazizina@fiu. edu), or Ben Beerman at the FHWA Resource Center, 404-562-3930 (email: benjamin.beerman@dot.gov).✽
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FOCUS Focus (ISSN 1060-6637), which is published monthly by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), covers the implementation of innovative technologies in all areas of infrastructure. Its primary mission is twofold: (1) to serve the providers of highway infrastructure with innovations and support to improve the quality, safety, and service of our roads and bridges; and (2) to help promote and market programs and projects of the various offices of FHWA’s Office of Infrastructure. FHWA Administrator: Victor M. Mendez Managing Editor: Lisa Jackson Tel: 202-493-3204 (fax: 202-493-3475) lisa.jackson@dot.gov Editor: Lisa Pope Tel: 202-234-7157 (fax: 202-347-6938) lgpope@woodwardcom.com
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chedule an onsite demonstration of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Highway Friction Tester (HFT). The HFT is a self-contained testing vehicle that maps friction at .30-m (1-ft) intervals continuously along a pavement section. Agencies can use the friction data for both networklevel and project-level applications. Continuous friction testing improves an agency’s ability to measure friction through intersections and around curves, and provides a more comprehensive picture of how friction varies for a section of pavement. The HFT also delivers a coefficient of friction that is more representative of conditions experienced by vehicles with modern anti-lock braking systems. FHWA’s onsite demonstrations offer States an overview of the HFT’s testing and
data reporting capabilities, allowing agencies to conduct friction testing on their local pavement surfaces. Demonstrations may range from a half-day to up to 5 days, depending on the testing location and the agency’s goals for the demonstrations. FHWA offers demonstrations free of charge, but may require participating agencies to provide traffic control. To schedule a demonstration, contact The Transtec Group at 512-451-6233, or request a demonstration online at www. thetranstecgroup.com/highway-frictiontester-demonstration. For more information about the HFT, contact Bob Orthmeyer at FHWA, 708-283-3533 (email: robert. orthmeyer@dot.gov), or David Merritt at The Transtec Group, 512-451-6233 (email: ✽ dmerritt@thetranstecgroup.com). © Frank Holt/Dynatest
Federal Highway Administration (HRTM) 6300 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101-2296
FHWA Offers Highway Friction Tester Demonstrations
Notice—The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the article. Publication No. FHWA-HRT-14-012 HIF-1/04-14(WEB)E
FHWA is offering onsite demonstrations of its Highway Friction Tester, allowing agencies to conduct friction testing on their local pavement surfaces.